Thu, Sep 21, 2006
Company Says They'll Be The First Of Many
One week after the unveiling of iFly -- a "pilots club" offering managed access to
a fleet of Columbia 350s, for about half the cost
and responsibility of traditional sole ownership -- Columbia
Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation has delivered the first six
Columbia 350 aircraft to the Southern California enterprise.
Co-founded by Erik Lindbergh, and based in Long Beach, CA, iFly
will operate a fleet of identically equipped Columbia 350s.
The Columbia 350 was selected over the field of other
piston-single aircraft as being the best platform for a variety of
users, and for its ruggedness. iFly members will have wide-ranging
individual needs that the Columbia 350 is uniquely suited to
accommodate -– mission flexibility to go 1,300 NM or the
ability to maximize the 1,100 pound useful load. Furthermore,
unique design elements and premium product support, such as line
replaceable major avionics components, heavy duty brakes, dual
batteries and more, ensure maximum dispatch rate for both iFly and
it members.
iFly officials wouldn't reveal the exact number of 350s ordered
-- but did say it greatly exceeds six planes.
"We’re launching iFly in Southern California with aircraft
based at six airports initially," Lindbergh said. "We have
aggressive expansion plans and anticipate rapidly adding to our
fleet and the number of airports we serve. We expect iFly to be
national within the next several years."
"Columbia has a longstanding relationship with Erik Lindbergh
and we’re proud to be an integral part of his new venture,"
said Randy S. Bolinger, Vice President of Marketing & Business
Development for Columbia Aircraft. "We’re impressed with
their approach and believe that programs such as iFly’s are
vitally important to the health of general aviation. We look
forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with
iFly."
iFly memberships are currently available at six Southern
California airports, with other bases to be added soon.
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